ˈtrifˌthȯŋ, ÷ ˈtripˌ- also -thäŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: tri- + -phthong (as in diphthong )
1. : a speech item consisting of three successive sounds (as in the first word following the consonant in r -droppers' pronunciation of fire house or powerhouse or of the word wow or for the letters preceding the pe of yipe ) made with the tongue in vowel articulatory positions and serving or capable of serving metrically as a monosyllable — compare centering , diphthong II
2. : trigraph